Sudan rejects request to allow entry of U.S Marines to its territories

KHARTOUM, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Sudan on Saturday rejected an official U.S. request to allow the entry of U.S. Marine infantry troops to its territories to enhance the protection around its embassy in Sudan following recent bloody protests in Khartoum.

"The U.S. State Department has filed an official request to Sudan to allow entry of a team of U.S. marines under the pretext of enhancing the protection around the American embassy," Al-Obaid Ahmed Mirawih, spokesman of Sudan's Foreign Ministry, told Xinhua.

"Ali Karti, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, apologized on the request and reiterated that the Sudanese authorities are capable of protecting all the diplomatic missions in Khartoum," he added.

On Friday, massive demonstrations broke out in the Sudanese capital Khartoum where thousands of protesters attacked the German and British embassies in Khartoum and then attempted to storm the U.S. embassy in protest against a movie that insults the Prophet Mohamed and which has triggered protests across the Arab and Islamic countries.

At least three protesters were killed during the protest on Friday near the U.S. embassy when they were hit by a police vehicle, while some 50 other civilians and policemen were injured.

In the meantime, U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden was reported to have called his Sudanese counterpart Ali Osman Mohamed Taha on Friday and urged him to ensure the protection of the diplomats in Khartoum.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- American Vice President Joe Biden on Friday called his Sudanese counterpart to express concern about the security of American embassy and other foreign missions in the country, as at least three people have died there in anti- American protests sparked by a U.S.-made film that insults Prophet Mohammed.

In his phone conversation with Ali Osman Taha, Biden " reaffirmed the responsibility of the government of Sudan to protect diplomatic facilities and stressed the need for the government of Sudan to ensure the protection of diplomats in Khartoum," the White House said in a statement. Full story